Device for discharging refund coins and crushing metallic cans of different sizes

ABSTRACT

An automatic device for simultaneously discharging a refund coin therefrom when an individual empty metallic can regardless of whether the can is of a large size or a small size is inserted for crushing therein employs an inclined-mounted hopper for guiding the can to a spring-pressed movably-mounted frame structure which processes one can at a time within the housing to contact the motor-driven crusher mechanism. Microswitches automatically control the operational movements of the coin and cans of different sizes.

United States Patent Tanaka 51 Sept. 23, 1975 DEVICE FOR DISCHARGINGREFUND COINS AND CRUSHING METALLIC CANS OF DIFFERENT SIZES [76]Inventor: Hosaku Tanaka, 696 Nagahama,

Kochi-ci, Kochi, Japan Aug. 12, 1974 [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 496,796

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,792,765 2/1974 Arp 194/4 C PrimaryExaminer-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerFrancis J. Bartuska [57]ABSTRACT An automatic device for simultaneously discharging a refundcoin therefrom when an individual empty metallic can regardless ofwhether the can is of a large size or a small size is inserted forcrushing therein employs an inclined-mounted hopper for guiding the canto a spring-pressed movably-mounted frame structure which processes onecan at a time within the housing to contact the motor-drivencrushermechanism. Microswitches automatically control the operational movementsof the coin and cans of different sizes.

Menefee 194/4 C 1 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures L I I I I I I A I 38 I I I II I I C\ I NI v .1 a 72 I I US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of23,907,087

FIG. 50.

FIG. 58.

FIG. 5A.

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,907,087

FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6B.

8 2 I 0L 8 0 W a r s v w PI F H i} 4 5 2 5 I .L B m 7 G G F F DEVICE FORDISCHARGING REFUND COINS AND CRUSIIING METALLIC CANS OF DIFFERENT SIZESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED, APPLICATION This application is related insubject matter to US. Ser. No. 496,794 filed Aug. 12, 1974 entitledAutomatic Device for Simultaneously Discharging Refund Coin and CrushingMetallic Can."

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automaticdevice-for discharging a refund coin therefrom when an individual emptymetallic can regardless of whether thecan is of a large size or a smallsize is inserted for crushing therein. 1

The can crushers of the prior art have certain disadvantages. Forinstance, the primary disadvantage has been the lack of interest by thepublic to use such crushers. One proposed solution, which canmanufacturers have tried is theestablishment of reclamation centers andpaying a refund or redemption fee for cans, based on weight. However,profitable operation of such reclamation centers has been difficult asthe monetary refund on a returned bulk of cans is small. Accordingly, alarge bulk of cans must be collected by the consumer to make the trip tothe reclamation center worthwhile. If the consumer could be encouragedto use crusher devices, one of the environmental pollution problemscould be substantially reduced.

The present invention obviates these and other disadvantages byproviding an individual can crusher and refund device with automaticcontrols for its operation. This device is relatively simple inconstruction and inexpensive to manufacture and most importantly, it isa device which will be readily utilized by the average consumer afterthe use of an individual metallic can, regardless of whether the can isofa large size or a small size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to anautomatic can crusher and, more particularly, to an automatic device fordischarging a refund coin therefrom when'an individual empty metalliccan of a select size is inserted for crushing therein.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to encouragethe average consumer to utilize a can crusher device for disposing ofindividual cans of different sizes immediately after the use thereof.For example, a can crusher device of the instant type could be locatedadjacent to a metallic can beverage dispensing machine in lieu of theconventional trash disposal receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an individual cancrusher device which is automatically set into operation by a largesized or a small sized can to be crushed after it leaves thecan-receiving hopper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an individualcancrusher device which automatically crushes and collapses a depositedselective size can and simultaneously discharges a refund coin to thedepositor as a reward for inserting the can therein.

These and other objects and aspects of the invention will be moreclearly understood from the following description of an embodiment ofthe invention shown, by

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of the deviceaccording to the present invention;"

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing, principally, the hopper andpusher mechanism of the device;

FIG; 3is a perspective view of the pusher and the mechanism forproducing the operation of a selective size can;

' FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the device to further illustrate theoperation of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are schematic views of the device illustrating thesequence of the can movements as performed by the pusher and crushermechanisms;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views of the crusher mechanism withrespect to a large size can; and

FIGS. 7:: and 7b are schematic views of the crusher mechanism withrespect to a small size can.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingin detail, there is illustrated therein an example of one form in whichthe invention may be embodied. The numeral 10 applies generally to avertically-oriented housing of an automatic device A that simultaneouslydischarges a refund coin therefrom when an individual empty metallic canregardless of whether the can is of a large size or a small size isinserted for crushing therein. The housing 10 is formed of any suitablerigid structural material and is rectilinear in shape. The housing 10comprises a bottom wall 12, side walls 14, front wall 16, and a top wall20. i

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an access rectangularshaped access opening 22is formed in the upper portion of front wall 16 for receiving anindividual empty cylindrical-shaped metallic can B that is beinginserted intothe housing 10. As seen in FIG. 1, an exit opening 24 oftheconventional coin discharge type is formed in the right side portionof front wall 16 for the discharge of a coin C of a designated monetaryamount from the housing 10. It is to be understood that the concept ofthe present invention is to encourage the recycling and recovery ofmetal from empty used metallic cans. This is accomplished herein by (l)paying a refund or redemption fee to the depositor of the empty can and(2) crushing and collapsing the empty can whereby its volume isdecreased and thus may be easily stored and transported to thereclamation center. Pursuant to the teaching of the present invention,the depositor of can B in access opening 22 will automatically receive arefund coindischarged via exit opening 24 in accordance with themicroswitch devices set forth hereinbelow.

The access opening 22 has a lower lip 26 extending therefrom to providea convenient access for the deposit of can B. Within the housing 10 is alongitudinal inclined-mounted hopper 28 whereby the deposited can may berolled and guided therealong from an upper entry end 30 to a lowerterminal end 32. Slightly above the lower terminal end 32 is amicroswitch which is shown as a movably mounted vertical depending arm34. The rolling can, that is, the lead can of a series of cans willcontact microswitch 34 which actuates through appropriate circuitry (notshown) the release of an individual can from hopper 28.

Within the housing there is provided a frame structure 36 which includesa pair of horizontal and parallel arranged upper bars 38, vertical legs40 respectively connected to the bars 38, a horizontal connecting barmember 42 at the intersections of the respective bar and leg, a pair oflower rails 46 that are parallel to each other and to bars 38, and aspring-pressed rectangular block 44 having vertical sockets forreceiving the lower ends of vertical legs 40 and horizontal bores thatextend therethrough for receiving the lower rails 46.

The released can drops by gravity onto rails 46. The width edges of thecylindrical can are supported by the rails 46. It is to be understoodthat the block 44 is movably mounted on the rails 46. After the releaseof the can from its position on rails 46, the spring-pressed block 44returns to its original position.

A rectangular shaped box 48 is provided for housing the crushermechanism of the device A. As shown in FIG. 3 the ends of rails 46 arefixedly attached to the top portion of a longitudinal side wall 50 ofrectangular box 48. Mounted to the left of frame structure 36 and withinthe box 48 is a reversible electric motor 52. The motor 52 operates toadvance a pressure plate 54 mounted in box 48 towards an end wall 56 ofrectangular box 48 to crush a can between pressure plate 54 and aspring-pressed false end wall 57 which is adjacent to the end wall 56.Subsequent to the crushing of the can, the motor 52 operates to retractthe pressure plate 54 to its original starting position.

The side wall 50 of box 48 has an elongated slot 58 and operativelyextending therethrough is a pin 60 that is fixedly attached to themedial portion of pressure plate 54. During the reciprocating movementsof the pressure plate 54, the pin 60 slides in elongated slot 58 andextends outwardly therefrom. A lever 62 mounted within housing 10 has atone end an upturned portion 64 which slides within an elongated aperture66 of movably mounted rectangular box 48 and at the other end anenlarged portion 68 which is adapted to operatively contact pin 60 whenthe block 44 with its associated frame elements is advanced towards therectangular box 48. FIG. 4 shows the two extreme positions of block 44and lever 62, the starting can crusher-holding position in dotted linesand the final can holding position prior to crushing in solid lines.

The sequence of the can movements as performed by the pusher and crushermechanisms is diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 5A5C. In FIG. 5A, can I.the initial one to be crushed, is positioned on rails 46 by virtue ofits gravity fall from hopper 28 and can ll, the next one in line, islocated above can I in the lower terminal end 32 of hopper 28. In FIG.5B, can I has been pushed by legs 40 into crusher box 48 and can ll hasbeen prohibited from further passage by the movement of bars 38 to blockthe exit from hopper 28. In FIG. 5C, can I is shown in a crushedcondition and can Il has been advanced to the initial position of can Iin FIG. 5A and so the operation continues as described before.

The operation of the device is completed when the crushed can contactsmicroswitch 70 and through appropriate circuitry (not shown) apredetermined amount of coin refund is discharged from exit opening 24.The crushed can is deposited; for example. by gravity through a bottomopening (not shown) into storage container drawer 72.

With reference to the embodiments in FIGS. 6A-6B and 7A-7B, the crushermechanism with respect to small and large size cans will be described,respectively. To accommodate a large size can in rectangular box 48, amicroswitch 74 is employed on the interior of side wall 75 of box 48.Likewise, a microswitch 76 is employed to accommodate a small size can.It is to be understood that the deposited large or small size can in box48 will prevent the advance of pressure plate 54 beyond the respectivemicroswitch 74, 76. The advancement of pressure plate 54 to itsrespective position will actuate either microswitch 74 or 76. Inaddition, the application of force against the end of the can bypressure plate 54 will cause the other end of the can to contact thefalse end wall 57. The end wall 57 has a movably mounted rod 80extending through an orifice in end wall 56 and said rod 80 is connectedwith an exterior mounted plate 82. A spring 84 is positioned betweenplate 82 and end wall 56 to provide a spring bias effect when the saidopposite end of the can contacts false end wall 57. With the large orsmall can the respective microswitch 74 or 76 is actuated simultaneouslywith the exterior microswitch 86 and its associated circuitry to cause apredetermined amount of coin money to be refunded. For example, therefund for a large can may be two cents, while for the small can, onecent.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference tothe preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention. For example, in lieu of the described coin receivingsystem of the present invention, a debit card system may be readilysubstituted therefore.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic device for simultaneously crushing an individual emptymetallic can of either a large or small size and discharging a refundcoin of a certain monetary value therefrom, therein comprising:

a vertically-oriented housing;

a longitudinal hopper means having entry and terminal ends, said entryend being formed as an access opening on said housing through which theselected size metallic can may be deposited, said hopper means beingmounted inclined to the vertically-oriented housing and forming apassageway through said housing whereby the deposited metallic can maybe rolled and guided therealong to said terminal end;

first microswitch means within said housing for controlling the releaseof an individual can from said terminal end;

a pusher means located at said terminal end;

a crusher box means located adjacent said pusher means and having a wallmeans;

movably mounted pressure plate means located in said crusher box means;

motor means drively associated with said pressure plate means forreciprocating said pressure plate means within said crusher box means;

said pusher means adapted to transfer the metallic can from saidterminal end to a crushable position in front of said pressure platemeans within said crusher box means;

said motor-driven pressure plate means operatively crushing thetransferred metallic can on the forcoin discharging mechanism locatedwithin said housing and operative to discharge the refund coin of acertain monetary amount, the amount of which depends on whether a largeor small can has been deposited; and

fourth microswitch means mounted on said wall means of said crusher boxmeans for selectively activating the discharge of the appropriate refundcom.

1. An automatic device for simultaneously crushing an individual emptymetallic can of either a large or small size and discharging a refundcoin of a certain monetary value therefrom, therein comprising: avertically-oriented housing; a longitudinal hopper means having entryand terminal ends, said entry end being formed as an access opening onsaid housing through which the selected size metallic can may bedeposited, said hopper means being mounted inclined to theverticallyoriented housing and forming a passageway through said housingwhereby the deposited metallic can may be rolled and guided therealongto said terminal end; first microswitch means within said housing forcontrolling the release of an individual can from said terminal end; apusher means located at said terminal end; a crusher box means locatedadjacent said pusher means and having a wall means; movably mountedpressure plate means located in said crusher box means; motor meansdrively associated with said pressure plate means for reciprocating saidpressure plate means within said crusher box means; said pusher meansadapted to transfer the metallic can from said terminal end to acrushable position in front of said pressure plate means within saidcrusher box means; said motor-driven pressure plate means operativelycrushing the transferred metallic can on the forward stroke of saidreciprocation within said crusher box means; second and thirdmicroswitch means located a short distance from each other and bothmounted on said wall means of said crusher box means for selectivelylimiting the distance of the forward stroke of said reciprocation tofirst and second terminal positions, respectively, said positionspermitting the accomodation of large and small size cans in theirrespective crushable positions in said crusher box means; coindischarging mechanism located within said housing and operative todischarge the refund coin of a certain monetary amount, the amount ofwhich depends on whether a large or small can has been deposited; andfourth microswitch means mounted on said wall means of said crusher boxmeans for selectively activating the discharge of the appropriate refundcoin.